Honda vs Hyundai Lemon Law Problems: What California Owners Report

Published October 19, 2026 · Updated October 19, 2026 · California lemon law

Which has more lemon law problems in California, Honda or Hyundai?

Side-by-Side Comparison

What California Honda Owners Report

California owners of 2019 to 2027 model year Hondas filed 2,295 NHTSA complaints between 2021 and 2026. Steering was the top area with 372 complaints, and collision warning and driver-assist systems were close behind with 337. The electrical system had 278, the fuel and EV propulsion system 219 and the engine 202.

Honda's two leading areas both involve how the car is controlled: steering and the electronic systems that warn the driver or step in to brake or steer. Those are areas where a defect can quickly become a safety concern.

The Civic had 366 complaints, the CR-V 305, the Accord 264, the Odyssey 261 and the Pilot 237. Honda's list is evenly spread across its core lineup. There is no single model carrying the brand's total.

Los Angeles (94) and San Diego (92) were nearly tied for the most Honda complaints. San Jose (67), Sacramento (51) and San Francisco (31) followed.

The Odyssey (261) is the only minivan in this comparison, and it ranks fourth for Honda, just behind the Accord. Families who rely on a minivan every day often feel steering or braking problems more sharply, because the vehicle is carrying children. That is a reason to document every event right away.

• Steering: 372 complaints
• Collision warning and driver-assist systems: 337 complaints
• Electrical system: 278 complaints
• Fuel and EV propulsion system: 219 complaints
• Engine: 202 complaints

What California Hyundai Owners Report

Hyundai owners in California filed 1,104 NHTSA complaints for the same model years and filing window. The electrical system led with 294 complaints, well ahead of the engine at 163. Brakes had 99, collision warning and driver-assist systems 79, and the transmission and powertrain 78.

The Ioniq 5 had 278 complaints, the most of any Hyundai and roughly a quarter of the brand's total. Next on the list were the Palisade (134), Tucson (115), Elantra (94) and Santa Fe (78). Where Honda's complaints are spread across many models, Hyundai's are led by one EV.

Hyundai's city list was Los Angeles (60), San Diego (59), Riverside (22), Sacramento (19) and San Francisco (16). Riverside is on Hyundai's list but not Honda's.

Interestingly, Hyundai's electrical number (294) is close to Honda's (278), even though Honda has about twice as many total complaints. Electrical problems are Hyundai's top area by a wide margin, while for Honda they rank third.

Raw totals need context too. Honda sells more vehicles in California across a long list of high-volume models, so more Honda complaints are expected. The totals are owner reports, not verified defects, and they do not rank either brand. Your repair history is what decides a claim.

Brakes are the third area for Hyundai with 99 complaints but do not appear in Honda's top five. A brake complaint, like the driver-assist and steering complaints on Honda's list, can raise safety questions under the lemon law.

Software Fixes for Steering, Driver-Assist and EV Problems

Many of the problems these two brands' owners report are tied to software. Driver-assist systems, electric power steering, EV charging and many electrical modules are controlled by computers. Dealers often address them with a software update, a recalibration or a module reprogram.

Each of those visits can be a repair attempt. Make sure every update is written up on a repair order with the date in, the date out, the mileage, your complaint in your own words, and what the technician did. If a dealer updates software while the car is in for an oil change, ask that the update and your complaint appear on the repair order.

If the problem comes back after an update, return to the dealer promptly and describe it the same way. Consistent descriptions across repair orders make it easier to show the same defect was repaired again and again.

The dealer may also reference a technical service bulletin. A TSB is a manufacturer repair instruction for a known issue. It is not a safety recall, but it is still useful evidence that the problem was known. Check your VIN on the NHTSA recall site too, because a recall repair can count as a repair attempt.

How the Repair-Attempt Presumption Applies Here

Within 18 months or 18,000 miles, California presumes a reasonable number of repair attempts in three situations (Civil Code 1793.22(b)): 2 or more repairs of a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, 4 or more repairs of the same defect, or more than 30 days out of service in total.

Steering that suddenly gets heavy, a car that steers itself out of its lane, or automatic braking with nothing ahead can each be a defect likely to cause serious injury. For Honda owners with those complaints, 2 attempts may be enough. For a Hyundai owner whose Ioniq 5 loses drive power on the road, the same 2-attempt path may apply.

Problems that are frustrating but not dangerous, like a screen that freezes or a charging port that will not unlock, more often follow the 4-attempt or 30-day paths. The manufacturer must complete each repair within 30 days unless you agree otherwise (Civil Code 1793.2(b)).

If your owner's manual clearly requires direct notice to the manufacturer, send it. For Honda, that is American Honda Motor Co., Inc. For Hyundai, it is Hyundai Motor America. Keep a copy of the notice and any case number the company gives you, since it shows the manufacturer knew about the problem.

Example: An Odyssey With a Steering Problem

This example is made up to show how the steps work. It is not a real client. Tom bought a new Odyssey in San Diego to drive his kids to school. At 10,000 miles, the steering became suddenly heavy twice while he was turning at low speed, and a steering warning appeared.

The dealer found a stored code and updated the steering software on the first visit. On the second, it replaced a steering sensor. Tom wrote down each event and took a photo of the warning message the next time it appeared.

After the second repair, Tom read his owner's manual and sent a written notice to American Honda Motor Co., Inc. When the steering went heavy again in a parking lot, he scheduled a free case review.

The attorney reviewed whether sudden heavy steering was a defect likely to cause serious injury, which would mean 2 repairs within 18 months could be enough. The attorney also noted the mileage at the first visit for the offset, and explained that Tom should keep making his loan payments and keep driving only if it was safe.

A Hyundai owner would follow the same steps. If a Palisade or Tucson kept losing power steering assist, the owner would document each event, send notice to Hyundai Motor America if the manual requires it, and ask for a review. The rules do not change with the badge.

Settlement Offers and Code of Civil Procedure 998

Once a claim is underway, a manufacturer may make a settlement offer. Some offers are informal. Others are formal offers under Code of Civil Procedure 998, which have real consequences.

If you reject a 998 offer and do not do better at trial, you can lose your post-offer costs and may owe some of the other side's costs. That is why every 998 offer should be reviewed carefully with your attorney before you decide.

When you win a Song-Beverly claim, the manufacturer pays your attorney fees, costs and expenses (Civil Code 1794(d)). That fee rule is why you pay $0 out of pocket for a lemon law attorney.

For manufacturers that opted in, the 2025 rules also add pre-lawsuit notice, document exchange and mediation steps for many claims (Code of Civil Procedure 871.20). Those steps can bring an early offer. Your attorney can explain how any offer compares to what the law provides, including a buyback with a mileage offset.

Never sign a release or accept a check from the manufacturer without understanding what you are giving up. A release usually ends your claim for good.

Documents to Gather Before Your Review

Bring everything that shows what you bought and each attempt to fix it. For software-related problems, notes about which updates were done and when are especially helpful.

Most warranty claims must be filed within four years (Commercial Code 2725), and the rules on when that clock starts are technical. Keep paying the lender or leasing company while the case is pending.

If the dealer tells you an update is pending or that engineering is reviewing your car, write down who said it and when. Those statements are not always on the repair order, but they help your attorney ask for the right records.

If your Honda or Hyundai is a lease, bring the lease agreement too. A lease buyback typically refunds what you paid and pays off the lease, and the lease terms help the attorney see what is owed.

• Purchase or lease contract
• Every repair order, including software updates and recalibrations
• Photos of warning messages with dates
• Written notice to American Honda Motor Co., Inc. or Hyundai Motor America
• Any 998 offer or settlement letter you received
• Recall information for your VIN (nhtsa.gov/recalls)

Signs Your Honda May Qualify

• Your Honda has been in for the steering 2 or more times and it is a safety issue
• The same Honda problem has been repaired 4 or more times
• Your Honda has been out of service more than 30 days for warranty repairs
• You own a Honda Civic and the problem keeps coming back

Signs Your Hyundai May Qualify

• Your Hyundai has been in for the electrical system 2 or more times and it is a safety issue
• The same Hyundai problem has been repaired 4 or more times
• Your Hyundai has been out of service more than 30 days for warranty repairs
• You own a Hyundai Ioniq 5 and the problem keeps coming back

Key Facts (as of October 2026)

• Complaint counts are California owner reports to NHTSA for 2019 to 2027 model years, filed 2021 to 2026. They are not verified defects and are not adjusted for sales.
• The two brands' top problem areas differ: Honda owners report the steering most, Hyundai owners the electrical system.
• For either brand, a reasonable number of repair attempts is presumed within 18 months or 18,000 miles after 2 tries for a serious safety defect, 4 tries for the same defect, or more than 30 days in the shop (Civil Code 1793.22(b)).

Talk It Through With a Lemon Law Attorney

Every case is different. Our attorneys, listed in firm order: #1 Jacob Shayesteh (founding attorney), #2 Armig Khodanian and #3 Kamau Edwards, will look at your repair history and tell you which option fits. 5.0 stars on Google from 77 reviews (October 2026). You pay $0, win or lose.

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“We stayed on the phone for over 30 minutes. He didn't try to rush me off or give me generic answers; he listened to every detail of my situation and walked me through exactly how the California Lemon Law works.”

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Read all 78 reviews on Google (5.0 stars, October 2026). Reviews describe past clients' experiences; every case is different.

FAQ

Is it harder to win a lemon law case against Honda or Hyundai?

No. Song-Beverly applies to Honda and Hyundai the same way. Your repair orders, days out of service and how serious the defect is decide the case.

What do California Honda owners complain about most?

In NHTSA complaints from California owners, the top areas are the steering, collision warning and driver-assist systems and electrical system. The most complaints were for the Honda Civic, Honda CR-V and Honda Accord.

What do California Hyundai owners complain about most?

In NHTSA complaints from California owners, the top areas are the electrical system, engine and brakes. The most complaints were for the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Hyundai Palisade and Hyundai Tucson.

Sources and Official References

• NHTSA recall lookup by VIN
• NHTSA, report a vehicle safety problem
• California Civil Code section 1793.22 (California Legislature)
• California Code of Civil Procedure section 998 (California Legislature)
• California Civil Code section 1794 (California Legislature)

Laws change. This page reflects California law as of October 2026 and was reviewed by Jacob Shayesteh, Esq.

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Attorney advertising. Wynn Law Group, APC, 10850 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 1010, Los Angeles, CA 90024. General information, not legal advice. Results vary. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.